Throughout the history of humankind crystals…have been highly valued by spiritual leaders, healers, and scientists…Crystals can help activate and facilitate… transformation [in human consciousness] through their ability to amplify and balance energy fields such as the one surrounding your body…Physical form in essence is comprised not of matter, but of energy…Crystals and gemstones have extremely high and exact rates of vibration which can be precisely manipulated to augment, transform, transduce, store, and focus other rates of vibration…These same vibrational qualities of crystals can be used to modify thoughts, emotions, and the energy fields of human bodies and other physical forms by first effecting change on the subtle energetic level–just as shamans, healers, and mystics have been doing for ages.

-Sirona Knight from “Pocket Guide to Crystals and Gemstones”

Crystals are an integral part of the energy worker’s toolbox, in my opinion. Crystals can be used to amplify, program, remove, revitalize, and shift energy. Crystals have different properties, which can be utilized intentionally to support specific healing in humans. Crystals help humans restore harmony to the body’s systems. Used on a daily basis–whether worn next to the skin via jewelry or carried in a pocket–they help us maintain balance in a world that can often feel chaotic and disordered. For example, I recommend that folks who are having a hard time connecting to their heart space wear rose quartz. In time, it’s not uncommon for these people to soften their emotional and mental bodies enough that they are better able to express what they are feeling.

One of my favourite ways to use crystals is to lay them on and around my body while I rest or meditate to help me regain overall wellbeing. In fact, this method has been so effective that I have a variety of crystals on my bedside table that I sleep with each night to ensure that any discordant energies from the day are removed and I can start the next day feeling revitalized. I regularly clean them when they feel “full” or “heavy.” Crystals are wonderful, non-invasive de-stressors. I also regularly share some dreaming practices that can be utilized alongside crystals nicely. These help folks who are learning shamanic dreaming technologies to increase their recall, gain more command of their dreamscapes, and manifest intentions into the physical world.

As a shamanic practitioner, I am aware of crystals being my relations. Just like humans, they are alive–gifts from the Earth that contain the ancient wisdom of our planet. I treasure them and interact with them as I would a human I love. I enjoy taking children to my favourite crystal store; they can spend hours there in a state of wonder and awe, connecting with these special beings. Adults can also trust their intuition to know what crystal they need simply by what they are drawn to. Often when we consult crystal books in a session, it turns out the client selected crystals that fit their healing intent perfectly! (I highly recommend “The Book of Stones: Who they Are and What they Teach” by Robert Simmons and Naisha Ahsian.) I teach clients how to do crystal layouts or how to make crystal healing grids for themselves and their loved ones. It’s always amazing to me how fast crystals can transmute headaches, cramps, and other pain we experience daily (though I am not against taking a pain killer if I have a busy day and can’t do the layout). Crystals pair nicely with energy modalities like Reiki and Pranic Healing–making the work more efficient and powerful in many cases.

Jennifer Engrácio has been a student of shamanism since 2005. Jennifer is a certified teacher who has worked with children in many different education settings since 2001. She is a certified shamanic coach, reiki master, and lomilomi practitioner; in addition, she runs Spiral Dance Shamanics. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, she now lives in Calgary, Canada with her life partner.